letters-第58章
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ished in Spain have fallen to my share； I having been labouring on the flinty rock and sierra； and not in smiling meadows refreshed by sea breezes。 I hoped in Seville and other towns of Andalusia to have secured the sale of more Testaments than it is probable that I shall be able to do in Spain proper； where I was afraid that my efforts had not been appreciated； but if my good friend Mr。 Graydon has preceded me to those regions let him remain there and let no one interrupt him。 I hope in the Lord that he will be permitted to prosper。 When you write to him； present my cordial regards； and assure him that at all times I shall be happy to hear from him。
I hope nothing in my last letter； in which I forwarded Mr。 R's communication； will be taken in bad part。 I repeat that I was grieved to have Marin saddled upon me； in a place where I am surrounded by spies and persecuted by many and vindictive enemies。 The idea； however； of his having gone back to Rome is preposterous； the Bishop of Jaen having assured Mr。 R。 that he had turned a deaf ear to all the promises which had been made to him； with the view of inducing him to recant。 He has not yet made his appearance。
I remain； my dear Sir； yours；
GEORGE BORROW。
P。S。 … You have never had the urbanity to acknowledge the receipt of my Gypsy Gospel。 In the Spanish newspapers it has been called a great accession to the literature of Spain。
LETTER： 26th April； 1838
To Mr。 William Hitchin （ENDORSED： recd。 May 8； 1838） MADRID； APRIL 26； 1838。
I TAKE the liberty of herewith sending you my accompt。 It is still an imperfect one； the printing of the Basque Gospel not being charged for； which I have not defrayed； together with some other items； for which I am indebted to my printer； who； having lately fought a duel； is laid up with his wounds； and cannot for the present transact business。 I have charged here； as you will observe； for the translation of the Basque St。 Luke； an item； which I sent in； in a former accompt； but which appears to have been overlooked in your favour of Decr。 28； 1837。 Independent of the Despatch； I have charged for the hire of a room as a general depot for the Scriptures。 I am afraid to place my whole stock in the shop； owing to the continual persecution to which I am subjected； notwithstanding I enjoy powerful protection。 Only last week a band of ALGUAZILS rushed into the premises and seized 25 copies of the Gospel of St。 Luke in Rommany which I had advertised。 To the present accompt of the money which I have disbursed； you will please to add the previous one of Novr。 1837； which I sent in； which will enable you to see how I stand。
I hope the Financial Committee and yourself will excuse any inaccuracies； supposing I have fallen into any； respecting money drawn； as I am much busied in negociations； and have lately been so harassed by vexatious proceedings； that I believe my mind has somewhat suffered。 However； glory to God； the Society's shop is open AT MADRID； though we are not allowed to advertise and though it be but a small taper burning amongst Egyptian darkness。 I hope it will serve as a watch…light and beacon to some。
I remain； etc。；
GEORGE BORROW。
P。S。 … The reprint of 1。5 sheet was owing to want of care on my part； in the translation。 I therefore wish that the amount be struck out from my disbursements。
LETTER： 11th May； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 May 22； 1838） PRISON OF MADRID； MAY ＇11＇； 1838。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I write； as you see； from the prison of Madrid； in which I have been confined for the last ten days； for it has pleased God to confer upon me the highest of mortal honours； the privilege of bearing chains for His sake。 I shall not at present detail the circumstances which occasioned my arrest； as doubtless the English newspapers will afford you all the particulars； nor shall I dwell upon the situation in which I find myself； but be content with observing that the violence； the preconcerted violence and atrocity； which have been practised towards me； will prove the means of accomplishing not what my enemies hoped and wished； the destruction and disgrace of the Bible…cause in Spain； but its triumph； its pure and sublime triumph。
Satan has； as usual； foiled himself； and his poisoned shafts have recoiled； and pierced his own bosom。 You will have heard how gallantly Sir George Villiers has taken my part； and how he has made a national question of the persecution of which I have been the object； and which lately reached its climax。 It will be necessary to tell you here that I have always communicated to him the steps which I intended to take in order to promote the circulation of the Bible； and they have uniformly met with his approbation； therefore you will easily conceive that in what I have done there has been no rashness nor anything which savoured of the arts of the charlatan： I have too much respect for the Gospel and my own character to have recourse to them。
I will now state a fact which speaks volumes as to the state of affairs at Madrid。 My arch…enemy the Archbishop of Toledo； the Primate of Spain； wishes to give me the kiss of brotherly peace。 He has caused a message to be conveyed to me in my dungeon； assuring me that he has had no share in causing my imprisonment； which he says was the work of the Civil Governor； who was incited to that step by the Jesuits。 He adds that he is determined to seek out my persecutors amongst the clergy and to have them punished； and that when I leave prison he shall be happy to co…operate with me in the dissemination of the Gospel！！！
I cannot write much now； for I am not well； having been bled and blistered。 I must； however； devote a few lines to another subject； but not one of rejoicing or Christian exultation。 Marin arrived just after my arrest； and visited me in prison； and there favoured me with a scene of despair； abject despair； which nearly turned my brain。 I despised the creature； God forgive me； but I pitied him； for he was without money and expected every moment to be seized like myself and incarcerated； and he is by no means anxious to be invested with the honours of martyrdom。 I have offered him some relief … what else could I do？ He seems partly insane。 I reap； as I expected； the full credit of his conversion。 The Bishop of Cordova got up the other day in council； and said that I was a dangerous pestilent person； who under the pretence of selling the Scriptures went about making converts； and moreover employed subordinates； for the purpose of deluding weak and silly people into separation from the Mother Church。
Of this man I have said in a letter to Mr。 Rule； not yet sent： 'I hope that Marin's history will prove a warning to many of our friends； and tend to a certain extent to sober down the desire for doing what is called at home SMART THINGS； many of which terminate in a manner very different from the original expectations of the parties concerned。 To do a great and a good thing requires a heart replete with the love of Christ and a head cooled by experience and knowledge of the world； both of which desiderata I consider incompatible with a wish to shine。'
It is probable that I shall leave prison to…morrow。 Pray write to my mother and beg her not to be alarmed。
I remain； Revd。 and dear Sir；
Yours faithfully；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 13th May； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 May 23； 1838） MADRID； May 13 ＇1838＇。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … Post is just about to start； but I am compelled to write a few words。 The Bible cause has triumphed in Spain。 Whatever I do in future connected with the Gospel is to have the sanction of the Government； who have expressed a desire to co…operate with the Bible Society towards the civilization of the country。
I left prison yesterday； and this morning was sent for to the British Embassy； where Sir George entered into an infinity of details which I cannot state at present。 Sir George has commanded me； however； to write to the following effect：…
Mr。 Graydon must leave Spain； or the Bible Society must publicly
